The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that Nigerian troops engaged in internal operations achieved significant success in August, neutralizing a total of 1,166 terrorists, arresting 1,096 suspected terrorists, and rescuing 721 kidnapped individuals.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, reported that the troops successfully targeted and eliminated several high-profile terrorist leaders in the North-East. Among the neutralized commanders were Munir Arika, Sani Dilla (also known as Dan Hausawan Jibilarram), Ameer Modu, Dan Fulani Fari Fari, Bakoura Araina Chikin, Dungusu, Abu Darda, and Abu Rijab. In the North-West region, the killed commanders included Kachalla Dan Ali Garin Fadama, Kachalla Dan Mani Na Inna, Kachalla Basiru Zakariyya, Sani Baka Tsine, Inusa Zangon Kuzi, Ibrahim, Tukur, and Kamilu Buzaru, among others.
In addition to these successes, the troops recovered a substantial cache of arms and ammunition, including 208 AK-47 rifles, 54 locally fabricated guns, 53 dane guns, 36 pump-action guns, 10,452 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 1,991 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 293 cartridges, 42 assorted arms, and 2,498 assorted ammunition. Furthermore, they seized over 5 million litres of stolen crude oil, 1.15 million litres of illegally refined diesel (AGO), 320 litres of kerosene (DPK), and 28,500 litres of petrol (PMS), among other items, with the total value of recovered products estimated at over N5 billion.
Maj.-Gen. Buba highlighted that the morale of the terrorists in the North-East is dwindling, leading to increased surrenders among their ranks. He expressed the military’s commitment to replicating this success in other regions, with the ultimate goal of restoring peace and safety across Nigeria.
“The military is on high alert, and we have heightened our readiness to protect the country from further terrorist threats. We urge citizens to understand that this war is not a quick fix but a sustained and enduring military operation. In the end, we are confident that these terrorists will be defeated, and our nation will be safe and peaceful again,” Maj.-Gen. Buba stated.
